More than 10,000 years ago the retreating glaciers of the Ice Age created the stunning landscape of plateaux, sweeping valleys, natural lakes and free draining soil on which Esker Hills is built. Add the genius of Christy O’Connor Jnr and you have a golfing gem in a unique setting with 18-holes of challenging championship golf where no two holes are remotely alike. Noted for its distinct links feel, superb sand-based greens and warm welcome, Esker Hills is the ultimate golfing test and one that you will certainly remember." Designing Esker Hills gave me enormous satisfaction, plotting the course through nature’s own sand-hills and valleys. Esker Hills is the only inland links type course I know of, which makes golf a pleasure all year round." So said Christy Jnr. Voted the No. 65-ranked golf course in Ireland by “Golf Digest Ireland” in 2008.

Congratulations to Shane Lowry on being part of the victorious Irish Team that won the European Amateur Championship at Western Gailes on the Ayrshire Cost, on Saturday 7th July 2007, when they overcame a strong French team by 4 ½ matches to 2 ½ matches. Ireland had not won this Championship since 1987, the other members of the team were Rory McIlroy (Hollywood Golf Club), Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye Golf Club), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge Golf Club), Simon Ward (Co. Louth), well done lads and we will continue to follow your progress in the years to come.

Having won his first Amateur Major in the AIB Irish Amateur Close Championship at Cork Golf Club in 2007 when he record a 4 and 3 win over Niall Turner of Muskerry Golf Club, Shane Lowry begun the 2008 season in some style. He won the Radisson SAS Sligo West of Ireland Amateur Championship at Co. Sligo Golf Club when he beat Des Morgan of Mullingar Golf Club by 2 and 1on Wednesday 26th March.

He and his fellow Irish team-mates then travelled to Royal Sotogrande in Spain to compete in the European Cup of Nations where he followed up Rory McIlroy’s achievement in 2007, to clinch the individual title when he beat the European Champion Benjamin Hebert at the fifth play-off hole.